In a major breakthrough, the Mumbai Crime Branch has busted an organised syndicate involved in the theft of underground copper cables belonging to the government-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL).
Investigators claim the racket, which allegedly caused significant losses to the public exchequer, was orchestrated not by an outsider but by an MTNL employee who allegedly worked in collusion with thieves.
The Crime Branch’s Unit 10 has arrested MTNL employee Vinod Yadav, along with his alleged associates Manoj Gupta and Sahil Kalekar, for their suspected involvement in the illegal operation.
According to the investigation, Vinod Yadav allegedly acted as the mastermind behind the syndicate. Police said he possessed detailed technical knowledge of MTNL’s underground cable network across Mumbai and used this insider information to help the gang identify high-value cable locations.
Investigators alleged that Yadav would first survey targeted areas, mark the exact locations of underground cables, and then direct the gang to those spots. Labourers associated with the syndicate would allegedly carry out excavation work during the night, cut the underground copper cables, and remove them without attracting attention.
Police said the operation followed a structured profit-sharing model. According to the preliminary investigation, Yadav allegedly received a commission of ₹1,000 for every metre of cable stolen.
As most thefts involved several hundred metres of cable, investigators believe he earned lakhs of rupees from each operation. The Crime Branch suspects the syndicate had been operating covertly for nearly two years, during which the accused allegedly amassed crores of rupees through the illegal activity.
The alleged racket came to light following a major theft reported on June 30, 2026, in Borivali East.
According to police, unidentified persons illegally excavated a stretch of road outside Clarion Building on Vasant Marvel Road, near the Magathane Telephone Exchange, and allegedly stole underground MTNL copper cables worth approximately ₹39.40 lakh.
The Crime Branch initially arrested five suspects believed to have carried out the physical theft. During interrogation, investigators allegedly uncovered links leading to the syndicate’s alleged kingpin, Vinod Yadav, and his associates Manoj Gupta and Sahil Kalekar.
Police officials believe the syndicate may have received assistance from additional insiders. Investigators said it would have been difficult for the operation to continue for such a long period without support from others familiar with the installation and monitoring of MTNL’s underground cable network.
The Crime Branch is now probing the possible involvement of other MTNL employees and has not ruled out further arrests as the investigation progresses.
